Hernia control pad



' 195 8 A. A. PHELPS HERNIA CONTROL PAD Filed March 5, 1957 INVENTOR; AnfonyAu Phels ATTCI RN EYS United States Patent HERNIA CONTROL PAD Anthony A. Phelps, Denver, Cain.

Application March 5, 1957, Serial No. 644,131

2 Claims. (Cl. 128117) This invention relates to a hernia control pad.

The object of the invention is to provide a pad which is adapted to be worn by persons who are suffering from hernia.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hernia control pad which includes a body that is adapted to be made of a suitable yieldable material such as sponge rubher, the pad including a portion or element which is recessed so that it will receive a hernia, there being an air chamber arranged within the pad whereby the pad can be worn or used with greater efficiency or comfort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hernia control pad which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the hernia control pad of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the hernia control pad, with parts broken away and in section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the hernia pad of the present invention and the pad 10 includes a base 11 that may be secured to the supporting strap 13 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of the screws or bolts 18, Figure 2.

The base 11 is provided with a central opening 12 which registers with an opening 14 and the strap 13, and there is further provided a flexible covering member 15 which has its edge portion 16 seated between and secured between a plate 17 and the base 11.

The plate 17 is provided with a central opening 19 which registers with the opening 12 in the base 11, and the plate 17 is further provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures 20 which are spaced around the opening 19, Figures 2 and 3.

Arranged contiguous to the plate 17 is the first section 21 of a body which may be made of sponge rubber, and the body is arranged within the covering 15. The first section 21 is provided with a central opening 22 which registers with the opening 19 in the plate 17. Arranged contiguous to the other side of the first section 21 is a plate 23 which is provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures or openings 24, Figure 4. The central portion of a second section 28 is cut away as at 25 so as to define an air chamber, and the second section 28 is arranged contiguous to the first section 21. A plate 26 is arranged on the opposite side of the section 28 from the plate 23,

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and the plate 26 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings or apertures 27, Figure 5.

Arranged adjacent to the second section 28 is a third section 29, and positioned contiguous to the third section 29 is a fourth section 30. The section 30 is provided with a central cutout or opening 31, and seated in the central cutout 31 in the fourth section 30 is a plug or body member 32 which is also made of sponge rubber or the like. A support member 33 is arranged adjacent the outer surface of the body member 32, and the support member 33 has its outer surface recessed or cut away as at 34 so that the hernia will be snugly engaged or received thereby.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a pad which is especially suitable for use in controlling hernias or the like. In use the pad is assembled or fabricated as shown in the drawings, and the straps 13 are arranged in engagement with the wearers or users body so that the pad 10 will be retained in its proper position. The pad is provided with the outer covering 15 which can be made of a suitable yieldable fabric, and the fabric 15 has its portion 16 secured between the plate 17 and the base 11. Arranged within the covering 15 is a plurality of sections which are made of a suitable yieldable or resilient material such as sponge rubber. Thus, there is arranged within the covering 15 a support member 33 which is provided with the outer recessed area 34 that snugly receives or engages the hernia so that the pad can be worn with increased contort or effectiveness. There is further provided the air space 25 and the plurality of apertures such as the apertures 24 and 27 whereby air can circulate through the body so as to prevent overheating or perspiration and so as to increase the inherent resiliency thereof. The parts can be secured together in any suitable manner, as for example, the parts can be secured together by an adhesive, and as previously described the sections which are arranged in the covering 15 may be made of sponge rubber which is porous.

The pad of the present invention is especially suitable for use in treating and reducing ruptures or hernias. The hernia pad of the present invention is constructed so that it swings or moves with the body movement of the wearer so as to exert a counter pressure at the particular angle which the wearers body exerts pressure against the pad so that the hernia will be held in its proper place along with the body tissue. The recess portion 34 of the support member 33 defines a cup which fits over the hernia so as to prevent the hernia from slipping into the canal which lies between the two hernia reins. The body of the device is preferably made of sponge rubber which is provided with a plurality of air cells therein, and the various parts can be secured together in any suitable manner, as for example by means of a suitable cement or adhesive. The plates can be made of any suitable material such as stifi cardboard. The covering 15 is made of a flexible soft material and the covering 15 can be held in place by any suitable means. instead of using the straps 13, any type of suitable securing means can be provided for fastening the pad to the wearers body. The hernia pad of the present invention will bring the hernia together and at the same time keep it pushed back in the abdominal walls. The air pocket 25 within the pad helps to insure that the pad wiil have the proper resiliency and also insure that the pad will not b04 e overheated. The pad is extremely light in weight and the support member 33 is free to rotate in the opening 31 so that the pad can be worn with greater comfort or facility. Also, the pad can be produced at a very low cost.

The various sections of the pad can be molded or otherwise formed from sponge rubber or other suitable material. The covering 15 is of a type which permits air to penetrate therethrough so as to prevent perspiration or overheating from irritating the users body. The air chamber 25 pro- .vides a ,SPace which coacts with the registering openings 22,19 and 12 whereby the pad will be kept expanded,

since air will be permitted to move therethrough. 'Iclaim: H V l 11 3111 2. hernia pad; a b'a'se provided with a central opening therein, a first plate' arfanged contiguous't'o said base 7 arid pr oiiidea witlr' -a central opening registering with .the op ening iiisaidbase, there'ibeing a pluraiity of apertures iii said plaml arranged in spaced apart 'relation around isaid' centialopening; a fleiiible covering having its end portion seated gbetween and secured between said plate arid base; a'yieldablebody' arranged in said covering and including aifirs't section' a'rranged"contiguous to said plate 'iindgp' rovided with a central opening registering with said last namediopenings', a'second' section arranged contiguous to saidifirlstsection iandlprpv ided vyith an enlarged cutout defining anair ichainber, a thirdsection r arranged cone ti'guou suto said second section; plates interposed between and provided with a central opening registering with'fthe opening .in saidtbase, .there being a plurality of aperturesin said plate arranged in spaced apart relation aroundsaid central opening, a flexible covering having its end portion seated between and secured between said plateland base,

a yieldable body arranged in said covering and includingra first section arranged contiguous to said plate, and provided 7 with a central opening registering with said'last'named openings, a second section arranged contiguous to said first section and provided with an enlarged cutout defining an air chamber a third section arranged contiguous to said second section, plates'interpose'dbetweensaid first and second section, and between said second and third secsaid'w'first-arid second section, 'andrbetw'een said second and third'fsections; "and said-platelbeing arranged on opposite sides at said air chamber and said "last named plate having V 'providedwith an outer recessed end-kfor engagmenttwith the hernia, said body being' made of sponge rubper.*"""

2. 111 arherniapad, a baseprovided with a central open- 7 ing therein, alfirst .plate arranged contiguous to said base tions, and said plates being arranged on opposite sides of e said air chamber'endsaid 'last'n'amed' plate having all plurality of apertures therein, a fourth sectionv arranged V contiguous to'said third section and provided withtan enlarged central recess, abody member seated in'said last namedrecessy and a support 'nimberarranged ebuti'guous'tosaid body member; saidsupp'o'r't memberbeing References Cited in the file of this patent usua E. impetus 

